Local fisherman says Byfield hermit no danger to others

3.30pm: A LOCAL fisherman who says he knows the man at the centre of an alleged incident at the Byfield National Park recently has spoken in support of the hermit.

In today's Morning Bulletin Gracemere's Sheridan Mosk says a recent family camping trip in the park area turned to terror when an elderly man "pointed a gun" at her partner's head.

The report has generated a lot of interest with a number of people contacting the paper.

However, a local fisherman who was at Kelly's Landing this morning, said the person involved was not a danger.

"He's lived in his caravan here for 40 years and he's very protective about his surroundings," the fisherman, who asked not to be identified, said.

"He's harmless though and normally just sticks to himself. If you get too close to his property he'll let you know but as far as I'm concerned he doesn't have any weapons.

"I sometimes take him to the shops in town so he can get supplies but other than that he doesn't bother anyone."

11am: CENTRAL Queensland campers are reporting online that the man squatting in Byfield National Park has been terrorizing campers for possible over 30 years.

Readers have posted comments on Facebook and The Bulletin website, sharing their tales of running into this guy, or a least being shot at, while being in the area for camping, fishing, riding or 4wd driving.

Sheridan Mosk shared her story with The Bulletin about camping on a beach off Kelly's Landing Rd recently with her four-year-old daughter and her partner.

Sheridan said they had come across the old guy earlier in the day when they discovered a car on fire in the park and her partner tried to extinguish the fire.

Later, as they were preparing dinner, the old guy has returned to their camp site, dressed in dark clothing and pointed a rifle at her partner, sniper style.

Janette Little - We have met him too. Threatened to shoot us and all Our kids. It was very scary cause he just came out of nowhere. Reported it to the ranger and had police come to our camp site and take a statement. They said they knew he'd been there for years.

Adam Kirsty Bailey - We had a guy pull a gun out on us up there about 17 years ago and told us this was not a camping area and leave now . Umm safe to say we got outta there pretty quick

Meagan Goltz - I've heard this man has done this before. Threatening people with guns and one time an axe. Crazy. Police need to do something before he hurts someone

Leigh Panda Maclean - That crazy old man has been up there for years

"I'm 110% sure he was going to kill us," Sheridan said after a horror-movie like experience camping in Byfield recently http://ow.ly/OmkRO What is the scariest experience you've had?

binone from Rockhampton - This sort of stuff has been going on up there for years, surprisingly he has not seriously injured or killed some one.
30 + years ago we had a shot fired at us up around the horse shoe area, and a few years ago a mate mate had his unattended tinny taken from the first gutter area and hidden back in the mangroves.
This guy confronted them with an axe as they were looking around the area, and they got the boat back, but he had to go to his then camp to get them the fuel tank he had removed.
He has had several camps in the area, one an old drum house boat, absolute rubbish that the authorities cannot find him, so who will accept responsibility should the worst finally occur.